Surgical footwear



L. CHEVRIER.

SURGICAL FOOTWEAR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1920,.

LQUQEQ. Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

4h\ 15 o a INVENTORI NETEQ fiTATE LOUIS GHEVRIER, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

SURGICAL FOOTWEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1922.

Application filed February 4, 1920. Serial No. 356,358.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L,1313.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs Cnnvnmn, a citizen of the French Republic,residing at Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements inSurgical Footwear, (for which I have filed an application in France,Feb. 6, 1917, Patent No. 484,633,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to surgical footwear adapted to raise the foot,so as to give it a natural movement or merely to sustain, in the case ofan infirmity due to an accident, fracture, paralysis of the sciaticnerve or other cause producing the same effect, a helplessly droppingfoot.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it has been shownin elevation in the annexed drawing.

The apparatus comprises one or two metallic stems or rods 1 at one orboth sides of the boot 2. The boot can be of ordinary form, built up ororthopaedic according to necessity; the stems may consequently vary inlength. They terminate at the lower end in an eye 13 or a fork throughwhich passes a bolt or screw 4 secured to the heel 5 of the boot. Thescrew 4 acts as pivot enabling the stem 1 to move forwardly, rearwardlyor slightly sidewise. The sidewise movement, of small amplitude, isessential to give a firm setting of the foot without lateraldisplacement of the leg when the foot is placed on an uneven surface oron a small stone for example. This movement is possible by reason of theplay in the joint; the eye 8 is oval or of slightly larger diameter tothat of the screw 4.

The stem 1 slides, at its upper end, in a small sleeve 6 having a collar7 which abuts against an are or ring 8 integral with aplate 9 secured tothe boot.

A coiled spring 10 which surrounds the stem 1 rests with its end edge ona ring or stop 11 fixed on the stem 1 and with its upper end it acts onthe sleeve 6; it thereby produces a supple or resilient and continuoustension on the foot and, by returning the heel to its normal position,keeps the foot straight and level.

On the side where the foot tends to turn over and to the front of theboot is secured a pulling device composed of a leather strap 12 and anelastic member 13, or a spring according to the tension required. Thispulling device is secured to the upper part of the stem 1, by a hook 14engaging in one of the holes 15 at different heights in the stem 1 toprovide more or less tension The hook 14 can be replaced by a chain thelinks of which are large enough to permit of the passage of the stem 1.The tension is then regulated by engaging this stem in one or other ofthe links.

The pulling device passes across the boot from the left side of the footto the right side of the calf or inversely according to the nature ofthe infirmity.

Two symmetrical pulling appliances connected together at 16 at thejunction of the leather 12 and the elastic 13, can be employed.

Such a combination of parts provides a simple, light and very suppleapparatus which does not tire the wearer.

I claim:

Surgical footwear which consists in a pivoted side stem yielding inforward rearward and sidewise direction, a pivot for same fixed to theboot-heel, a stop and a spring on said stem, :1. collared sleevepressing on the spring, a ring and plate on the leg of the boot toengage and retain said sleeve, and an elastic pulling device secured tothe stem and the front of the boot.

LOUIS GHEVRIER.

